Fleeing Suspects Smash Into Naugatuck Police Cruiser

NAUGATUCK, CT — A pair of suspects, who were fleeing police officers who were trying to question them, rammed into a Naugatuck police cruiser Friday night during their botched getaway, according to authorities.

After striking the police cruiser with their vehicle, both tried to run, but were eventually caught.

The chase began in the Walmart parking lot on New Haven Road when an officer tried to speak to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle.

The car, a gray, 2010 Infiniti G37, took off, hitting a parked vehicle in the parking lot and disappearing.

Officers then spotted the car on South Main Street, and chased it to Route 8 where it got onto the thruway in the wrong direction.

The vehicle then smashed into the police cruiser on the on-ramp by Linden Park on North Main Street.

"The collision disabled both vehicles," Naugatuck police wrote in a report. "The operator and passenger then fled the area on foot. Officers established a perimeter and utilized the department’s patrol K9, Tommy; located both suspects a short distance away from the collision on Curtis Street and North Main Street. Troopers from the Connecticut State Police responded and assisted Naugatuck Police."

Inside the suspects car, police found:

• 39 baggies of crack cocaine
• 80 bags of heroin
• More than $3,500 in cash
• A .380 semi-automatic pistol

Arrested was Donta Lamont Crockett, 29, of West Haven, on the following charges:

• Operating an unregistered motor vehicle
• Misuse of license plates
• Reckless driving
• Engaging police in pursuit
• Evading responsibility with injury
• Evading responsibility with property damage
• Illegal tinted windows
• Possession w/intent to sell narcotics
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle
• Interfering with an officer
• Assault on an officer
• Breach of peace
• Illegal possession of a pistol
• Reckless endangerment, 1st degree

Also arrested was Jeffniqua Tyshon Smith, 28, of New Haven on the following charges:

• Possession w/intent to sell narcotics
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle
• Illegal possession of a pistol
• Reckless endangerment

Crockett was held in lieu of bail of $500,000, and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court at a later date. Smith was released after posting bond on bail of $100,000, and she is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 25.